Over 600 international services from India be added by Oct-2013 as new rights granted

India's Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ajit Singh announced (09-Nov-2012) the introduction of new international sectors and the progressive increase in the number of international services offered by Indian carriers. As part of this, fresh bilateral negotiations are proposed for additional traffic rights with the number of international services to increase from 1074 to 1695 weekly services by Oct-2013, an almost 58% year-on-year increase. The new allocations over the next three seasons (i.e. winter 2012, summer 2013 and winter 2013) are "expected to give a major boost to Indian carriers and spur growth of the Indian civil aviation sector as a whole by considerably improving connectivity of Indian cities with international destinations". As the allocation for Air India and Air India Express for winter 2012 had already been approved, the present approvals for them cover summer and winter 2013. Details include:

Air India and Air India Express: Have been allocated traffic rights of 471 weekly services up to summer 2012, increasing to 577 up to winter 2012, 650 up to summer 2013 and 691 weekly services up to winter 2013;

Jet Airways: Has been allocated traffic rights of 417 weekly services up to summer 2012, increasing to 497 up to winter 2012, 539 up to summer 2013 and 602 weekly services up to winter 2013;

IndiGo: Has been allocated traffic rights of 116 weekly services up to summer 2012, increasing to 137 up to winter 2012, 151 up to summer 2013 and 172 weekly services up to winter 2013;

SpiceJet: Has been allocated traffic rights of 70 weekly services up to summer 2012, increasing to 130 up to winter 2012, 186 up to summer 2013 and 230 weekly services up to winter 2013;

Total (Other airlines): Have been allocated traffic rights of 603 weekly services up to summer 2012, increasing to 764 up to winter 2012, 876 up to summer 2013 and 1004 weekly services up to winter 2013;

Total (All airlines): Have been allocated traffic rights of 1074 weekly services up to summer 2012, increasing to 1341 up to winter 2012, 1526 up to summer 2013 and 1695 weekly services up to winter 2013.

The traffic rights have been allocated to Indian carriers on the following routes for the first time:

With the allocation of new traffic rights, the increase in traffic entitlements of airlines is approximately 60% over the existing traffic rights in next three seasons. The Ministry commented, "Increase in number of international flights will also enhance competitiveness among airlines and is expected to bring down fares benefitting passengers. Further, advance approval for the next three seasons will help airlines to plan their schedules in time, get timely approvals and necessary clearances from authorities including those from destination countries". Meanwhile, fresh bilateral negotiations are also proposed with Mr Singh directed to hold fresh bilateral negotiations to explore possibilities of enhancing additional traffic rights with those countries with whom existing traffic rights have almost got exhausted. These include Singapore, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Macao and Afghanistan. [more - original PR]

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